Valve for controlling the flow of molten metals



VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW 0F MOLTEN METALS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 H.HILL ET AL Aug. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 37 raw FIG. 2.

inventor Aug. 1, 1950 H. HILL ETAL 2,517,311

VALVE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF MOLTEN METALS Filed Jan. 5, 1946ZSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 vALvE FOR cos'moumc 'rna FLOW orMOLTEN METALS Harry Hill and Sydney Beckinsale, London, England,aasignora to British Insulated Callender's Gables Limited, London,England, a British company Application January 5, 1946, Serial No,639,485 In Great Britain February 1,1945

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 251-113) The invention relates to valves forcontrolling the iiow of molten metal, particularly intended for use incontrolling the passage of molten lead from a melting pot, or from avessel into which it has passed after melting. A principal object oftheinvention is to provide a valve for this purpose which protects themolten metal passing, through it against leakage of. air past thesurfaces of the valve into contact with the metal.

In this improved valve the moving member, which opens and closes anorifice in a fixed member by sliding over the surfaces thereof, works ina bath of molten metal in which it is submerged and which is distinctfrom the mass of metal to be controlled. This moving member lies betweenand slides over two opposed faces and has an aperture in it which isadapted to be moved into and out of register with apertures in theopposed laces so as to provide a clear passage through ing material maybe provided on one of the relatively sliding surfaces ofthe valvemembers, preferably on the stationary member. The object of thisprovision is to secure that there is no, or practically no, rubbingcontact here between the metallic surfaces, where those surfaces aremade of such metal that an action similar in 'efiect to seizure of therubbing surfaces may occur. It appears that this is due, at least inpart, to the molten metal of the bath producing a kind of solderingaction, for instance, if the metal is tin each of the rubbing surfacesmay become tinned and then the two adjacent layers of tin may unite. Asuitable non-metallic facing material is compressed asbestos, which mayinclude a binding material. The facing may be secured in place on itsmember to ensure no relative movement between them, for instance byprovid- .ing, on the back of the facing, projections to fit intorecesses in the adjacent metal surface.

The invention is further described hereinafter with reference by way ofexample tothe accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a sectional elevationof a valve on the line I--I ins-Figure2,

Figure 21s a sectional-view from above, the section being taken on theline lI--II in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of

the valveseen'in the direction of the arrow III in Figure 1, and

, Figure 4 is a view from below of a portion of the arrangement.

' In the form of valve illustrated the moving member I is a plug ofcircular cross-section adapted to be turned about its vertical axis. Theplug is slightly tapered with the largest diameter uppermost, and worksunder continual endwise pressure in a corresponding socket formed in thefixed member 2. The socket is lined with a' facingmaterial, ofcompressed asbestos incorporating a binding material and graphite,arranged in four pieces I, I, 5 and i which substantially cover the wallof the socket. The fixed member 2, comprising an integral body of metalof rectangular shape, is provided with diametrically placed holes 1 and8 passing through the wall of the fixed member into the socket. Theparts 3 and l 'of the facing adjacent to these holes are provided withapertures 9 and In similar in shape and size and forming extensions ofthe holes I and 8 in the fixed member. The fixed sur- -faces adjacent tothe apertures 9 and In constitute two opposed curved faces over whichslides the moving member I as this member is turned about its verticalaxis. A passage ii passes transversely through the plug l and is adaptedto register with the holes in the fixed member. In one position, shownin full line in the drawings, the alignment of the holes inthe fixedmember with the passage in the moving member provides for uninterruptedflow through the valve. By turning the moving member i through thepassage II is moved into the position shown by the broken lines inFigure 2, whereby it is completely out of register with the ports I andB in the fixed member so that the valve is closed.

The arrangements above described are completely surrounded by a bath i2adapted to contain molten metal to a level l3 whereby the valve iscompletely submerged. The moving part of the valve is thus submerged atall parts of its movement'so that air cannot be carried to the workingfaces of the valve and thence into contact with the metal controlled bythe valve. The bath I2 is in the form of a rectangular container. openat the top, and provided with a drain plug H to facilitate emptying. Thevalve is supported in, and located with reference to the bath '2 by twometal bridge pieces I! and I6, attached to the the walls of the bath.The bridge pieces are welded or otherwise joined in a fluid-tight mannerwith the adjacent parts of the bath. The bridge pieces l5 and it arebored to form holes I! and 18 in alignment with the apertures in thefixed member so that when the valve is in the open position there is anuninterrupted passage between those holes I! and I8. These holes may beinternally threaded to facilitate connection with containers orreceptacles for molten metal, the flow of which is to be controlled bythe valve.

Four radial slots [9, 20, 2| and 22 extend from the outside oi. thefixed part 2 to the inner urface of the socket. They extend verticallyover the full length of the relatively movable surfaces. The facingpieces 3, 4, 5 and 6 are limited to the surfaces of the socket lyingbetween the slots which are thereby extended to the surface of themoving member I The slots secure access of molten metal in the bath I2to the surface of moving member between the positions of the transversepassage I l in the open and closed conditions, thereby to prevent anycreepage of air from the outlet, between the moving and fixed parts, tothe metal in the passage II and perhaps to the metal at the entrance tothe valve. In order to prevent fraying of the edges of the facing piecesadjacent the inner ends of the radial slots I9, 20, 2| and 22, whichmight obstruct the passage through the slots, those edges are faced withmetal strip eyelets 23. Similarly annular metal eyelets 24 protect theedges of the facings adjacent to the main openings I and 8 on the insidewall of the socket.

' An annular lip 25 formed around the lower part of hte socket serves toretain the facing material against downward movement. An upper extensionof the socket is internally threaded to receive a tightening ring 26,which, when screwed into place, bears upon the top of the facingmaterial to hold it firmly in position. The facing material may besecured against rotation by providing on the back of th materialprojections 2'1 fitting into corresponding recesses in the adjacentmetal surface of the socket. The upper part or stem of the movablemember I projects upward out of the bath and is in three portions. Thefirst portion 28 adjacent to the plug rises above the liquid level l3and its upper face forms a seating for a spanner 29. The next portion 30is-shaped to accommodate the spanner 29 so that by positive engagementthe movement of the spanner effects movement of the movable part I. Theupper portion is threaded to receive a nut 3| whereby the spanner 29 maybe clamped between a washer 32 and the seating on the first mentionedportion 28. The spanner 29 is thus 4 plunger 35, and hearing at one andagainst the under side of the crossebar 33 and at the other end againstthe upper side of the enlarged head 36. A clamping effect is thusobtained to maintain the movable member 2 under continual downwardpressure, to secure close engagement between the relatively movingsurfaces of the valve.

The lower end of the socket, below the annular lip 25, is closed by awall 28 leaving above it a clearance space to permit endwise movement ofthe plug l within the required limits. Integral with, and extendingdownwards from, the lower end of'the plug isa quadrant shaped projection39 (see Figure 4). This extends into a substantially semi-circularaperture 40 formed in the -c1osure wall 38, and is adapted, byengagement located above the level of molten metal in the g bath l2; itis suitably formed as shown to clear the upper edges of the bath and maybe of any convenient shape and length to keep the operator away from theregion of hot metal. Extending diametrically across the bath I2 is across bar 33 bolted at each end to an upright 34 the lower end of whichis fixed to the outside of the fixed part 2 of the valve. A plunger 35,in alignment with the axis of the movable part I of the valve, is freelymovable in a vertical direction in a hole in the cross-bar 33. The lowerend of the plunger 35 is formed with an enlarged head 36, which ispressed against the end of the uppermost part of the movable member I ba round the four sides thereof.

with the appropriate edges of the aperture 40, to determine the limitsof movement of movable member i in each direction, and particularly toensure that in the open condition the transverse passage II is in properalignment with the fixed openings.

Heating arrangements are preferably provided to maintain metal molten inthe bath I2. For instance a gas burner 4| may be arranged below the bathwhich is enclosed by a sheet metal envelope 42 extending from below thebath and Hot gases from the burner will circulate through the envelopeand escape through apertures 43 at the top. The walls of the envelopeare apertured H to permit access to the bridge pieces l5 and ii. Ifdesired, the metal in the bath may be retained in the molten state whilethe metal to be controlled by the valve is solidifying on cooling downof the associated plant. It is preferable to use a metal in the bathdifferent from that to be controlled, for instance, the valve forcontrolling the flow of molten lead may work in a bath of tin.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A valve for controlling the flow of molten metal, comprising a fixedmember having two opposed surfaces and having an inlet aperture in onesurface and an outlet aperture in the other surface, a movable memberlying between the opposed surfaces, having surfaces in sliding contactwith 'the opposed surfaces, having an aperture extending between thesurfaces of sliding contact, and movable relative to the fixed member tobring the apertures in the fixed and movable members into and out ofregister to provide a passage between the inlet and outlet apertures inthe fixed member and to cut 011' this passage and separate from saidpassage, 8. bath extending below and above the fixed member to containmolten metal to a depth to submerge the movable member.

2. A valve for controlling the flow of molten metal, comprising a fixedmember having two opposed surfaces, an inlet aperture in one surface andan outlet aperture in the other surface, an apertured movable memberlying between the opposed surfaces, having surfaces slidable relative tothese opposed surfaces and movable relative to the fixed member to bringthe apertures in the members into and out of register to open and closethe valve. a bath separate from the said passage and adapted to containmolten metal to a depth to submerge the movable member, and a facing ofnon-metallic heat-resistin material on the sliding surfaces of one ofthe members.

3. A valve for controlling the flow of molten metal, comprising atapered plug of circular crosscompressed helical spring 31 surroundingthe Section having a r n v rse perture, 3 fixed member adapted 8 memberhaving a socket of circular crosssection lined with nonmetallicheat-resisting material, having diametrically opposed inlet and outletapertures, and taperedto receive the plum the plug being rotatable inthe socket to bring the transverse aperture into and out or registerwith the diametrically opposed apertures to open and close the valve,and surrounding the fixed member a bath separate from the e through thevalve and [adapted to contain molten metal to adepth to submerge theplug.

4. A valve for controlling the flow oi molten metal, comprising atapered plug ot circular cross-section having a transverse aperture, afixed member having a socket of circular cross-section lined withnon-metallic hea -resisting material, having diametrically opposed inletand outlet apertures. and tapered to receive the plug, the plug beingrotatable in the socket to bring the transverse aperture into and out ofregister with .the diametrically opposed apertures to open and close thevalve. a bath surrounding the ilxed to contain molten metal to a depthto submerge the plug, and the iixed memasmau berhavin:

I mazesextendlngradlallythrouzh the wall of the socket from the bath tothe curved surface or the pi HARRY HILL 5 SYDNEY BECKINBALE.

amass crrnn The following references are ol'record in the 10 tile ofthis patent:

f Unrrnn s'ra'ms m'mn'rs Number -Name Date 1.448.359 Dlttman Mar. 13,1923 1,481,520 Mansfield July 10, 1923 1 856,430 Roesen May 3, 1932 1388,207 Bard Nov; 22, 1932 2,023,765 Mansfield Dec. 10, 1935 FOREIGNPATENTS 20 Number Country Date a 3,357 Great Britain or 1891 55,632Germany Mar. 12, 1.891 115.572

Great Britain May 16, 1918

